He wasn't playing a role. Not in real life anyway, some of his more gangsta songs are exaggerations or experiences of others, but he always said it.

However his real life fuck ups are all his. Anyone that knew (friends) Tupac before he was famous will tell you the same, he was street. Not a gangster, but he was street. He had a furious tempter and would never back down to anyone

For example the OPs video was shot in 1988. A few months later in 1989 Tupac was homeless, and started working as a roadie for the group digital underground. They knew him at the exact same age that video of him trying impress school officials. They described him as "wild" and "crazy". This was before he was famous, this is before he was a rapper. It was not an act. He would often lose his temper and do something stupid, for example here is a video of how in 1989 he assaulted digital undergrounds sound man because he believed he had fucked up the sound. They fired him for that, but of course kept on re-hiring him because his heart was in the right place. It was just unacceptable behavior. Shock G has stated many times that although he loved him, his biggest concern when hiring Pac as a roadie, was trying to calm him. So that's two different sides of Tupac, who had the man in the video in the OP, calm, intelligent, sensitive. And then you have the ghetto kid that was assaulting sound engineers at the exact same time period.

For example the OPs video was shot in 1988. A few months later in 1989 Tupac was homeless, and started working as a roadie for the group digital underground.

Wee are you getting your history? Tupac moved to Marin with his family in 88. He was in High School, not homeless when he got recruited for the Digital Underground tour. And he was already a rapper. That's how he got discovered for the tour, from a rap show he played. You don't know what the fuck you are talking about.

He was in High School, not homeless when he got recruited for the Digital Underground tour.

Incorrect. Tupac was homless for two years between 1988-1990 when his mother became addicted to crack. He was sleeping on leila steinbergs couch while attending this high school, eventually dropping out to work in a pizza shop. He lived with Leila on and off for two and a half years, including when working with Digital Underground in between travelling

That's how he got discovered for the tour, from a rap show he played.

Again, incorrect. He got discovered by Digital Underground because Leila (when he was homeless, which you deny) introduced him to Antron Gregory, and Antron Gregory then later introduced him to Shock G. Antron/Atron Gregory found Tupac through Leila, who he was living with due to being homeless. Antron was trying to get Pac a deal, but Pac started to get pissed off with Antron that nothing was materlising, so he introduced him to Digital Underground.

So what are you going to say now? Digital Underground, Antron Gregory, and Leila Stienberg are lying about how they met him? Get the fuck out of here.

And he was already a rapper.

Obviously. I was talking as a professional profession. He was still aspiring. Even when he was on digital underground, they never let him rap with them for over a year. Don't believe me, here have another quote.

" He was our roadie. And out of all the roadies we ever had, he was the best... It was later that he started performing onstage with us. "

So lets get back to your comment:

Tupac was just playing a persona...

...to sell records.

Clearly it's not, as his behavior was the exact same pre-fame. That's the point. Again more quotes from when he was 17.

"The only thing you could say about Pac was how wild he was. It was later that he started performing onstage with us. Pac would probably get us arrested in every other city because he would pop shit at the police quick [laughs]" - Shock G

"Sometimes he would get us in unnecessary fights. He would never back down even if he were in the wrong. But if they were fucking with us and we were innocent, which happened most of the time, we would support 2Pac 100 percent. But a lot of times he was just wrong [laughs]. "

You don't know what the fuck you are talking about.

Clearly you don't. This is basic pac biography 101. But don't let that stop you peddle more bullshit.

Who on earth are you confusing me with? Your behavior with me is becoming incredibly strange. I also seen your Che Guevara comment down below.

Since when does arguing with you over whether or not Tupac was homeless (he was, as sourced) when he was discovered in anyway make him out ot be a revolutionary or like Che Guevara? In fact if anything all i've done is sourced that he was just as much as a prick in his younger years than he was as a superstar. Seriously, go through my post history, what the fuck is wrong with you?

I just get the feeling you don't like being proven wrong, no matter how insignificant the scenario. All i've done is prove to you he was actually a bit wild in younger years, and pointed out that he actually was homeless, and you've went a bit mental even to the point of bitching to me to other posters, now claiming I think Tupac was a revolutionary and a "Che Guevara" type figure. Do you suffer from mental health issues?